Wild one in Bardstown.

 

Bethlehem took a 21-14 lead with 4:18 to play when Jordan Cooper scored on a 56-yard run, slithering out of several tackles before escaping.

 

Fort Knox appeared to have its drive stall near midfield until a freak play on a desperation pass from Brandon Franklin that was tipped by Bethlehem's Clay Owens and Cooper, only to have Fort Knox's Dominic Dingle run underneath it for a big gain.

 

On the next play, Franklin threw a 24-yard score to Jermell Rogers, and Josh Kleber bulldogged his way in for the conversion to put Fort Knox up 22-21 and seemingly in control with 15.4 seconds left.

 

But a celebration penalty against the Fort Knox sideline proved costly, as Cooper took the ensuing kickoff all the way back to the 35, then threw a heave up the left sideline to Owens for a touchdown as time expired.

 

For Bethlehem, it was Ron Koontz's first win as a head coach after a long career as an assistant. Cooper, a sophomore, also accounted for Bethlehem's other two touchdowns, one through the air and one on the ground.

I coached Jordan as a kindergartener is basketball, he was doing behind the back layups then and we moved him up to play against fifth graders. He is a special kind of athlete.

That is a tough tough game.

Another weird angle on that final play: There actually was a flag thrown at around the 10-yard line or so against Fort Knox for having too many men on the field.

I'm still not sure why that flag was thrown so far downfield. The LOS was the 39. Why wasn't it thrown near there?

Bethlehem was lucky to win this one, and this is one of the greatest high school games that I have seen...Jordan Cooper is one great athlete and looks so smooth in what he does....

Keep worknig Ft Knox. Wins will come!

Tough to tell where either of these teams are just yet. Fort Knox obviously better than last year and Bethlehem not quite as good yet. This game was a 50-0 blowout last year at Knox and Knox lost their best running back to John Hardin. Bethlehem's line is much improved and it looks like Jordan Copper may be able to step up and fill Robinson's shoes as a playmaker. I will be interested to see if Owens can move the ball as effectively in the running back position as he did last year running from QB. Fort Knox on the other hand looked like they had improved athletically. Bigger than last year and faster. Kids from Fort Knox showed a lot of heart but what else would you expect from players whose parents are out defending the country so we can play football on Friday nights. I will be rooting for Fort Knox the rest of year but I think they will have a tough time getting to .500 mark.

I'm still not sure why that flag was thrown so far downfield. The LOS was the 39. Why wasn't it thrown near there?

 

Good question. I overheard a little bit of the conversation between the stripes and the FK coaches, and while the coaches didn't like what they heard, it seemed to be something along the lines of the official not catching it until after the snap. Seemed like a very odd spot for it, and at first I thought it was a pass interference based on where the flag was.

Good question. I overheard a little bit of the conversation between the stripes and the FK coaches, and while the coaches didn't like what they heard, it seemed to be something along the lines of the official not catching it until after the snap. Seemed like a very odd spot for it, and at first I thought it was a pass interference based on where the flag was.

 

What I don't understand is the clock was stopped so there really was no rush for Bethlehem to get that play off. Shouldn't the backline ref have been counting players the entire time before the ball was snapped?

What I don't understand is the clock was stopped so there really was no rush for Bethlehem to get that play off. Shouldn't the backline ref have been counting players the entire time before the ball was snapped?

 

It would stand to reason that he should've been counting.

 

My best guess on them running the play so quick was in the hopes of catching Ft. Knox off-guard, which seemed to work.

Some of the players I talked to after the game said there was some confusion on that last play. I think one said he started cramping up before he tried to make a play on that pass. There's no telling what would have happened had Knox been ready to better defend that pass and the player didn't cramp up.

Yea that can be said both way though because the only way Fort Knox went ahead was because of a freak play where town Bethlehem players made excellent plays on a passed ball tipped it and it was caught by a receiver that was not intended for the past. Both teams had fortunate plays that helped them but I think the better team probably won the game.

Wow, sounds like this was a great game to be at....

Wow, sounds like this was a great game to be at....

 

One of the best I've ever seen. I'd have to think back, but probably top 2-3. Probably the craziest and most exciting 4th quarter I've ever seen.